World Series Game Three---Live Thread

[EasyAce]

Top of the first.

DODGERS

Mookie Betts fouls off the first pitch of the game, up the third base line; ball one down and away; ball two off the outside corner; takes a called strike off the outside edge; ground ball to the left side, Adames has to backhand it and throw fast and Ji-Man Choi does a split at first to take the throw and get him out.

Corey Seager---swinging strike on a fastball; takes a fastball strike hitting the middle; ball one outside curve ball; ball two curve ball down and in; skied to shallow left, Aroazerna in for the catch, two away.

Justin Turner---ball one upstairs; called strike on a breaking ball; sees a curve landing above the middle for a called strike; hit well to left, this one's a high liner, Arozarena going back it's gonnnnne goodbye!! The Dodgers strike first this time!

Max Muncy---ball one high; curve ball, called strike one; curve ball, called strike two just under the middle; ball two inside; ground ball off Morton's foot, the Rays in the right side shift nobody there to take the ricochet off the foot, Muncy has an infield hit.

Will Smith---swinging strike; called strike around the middle; struck him out swinging and Morton contains the early damage. 1-0 Dodgers, mid-first.

[EasyAce]

Bottom of the first.

RAYS

Austin Meadows---ball one up and away; fouls one back; bouncer to first backhanded by Muncy, waves Buehler off to take it to the pad himself.

Brandon Lowe---ball one outside; ball two high and away; called strike on the outside corner; takes a strike called just off the middle; strike three curve ball called on the outside corner.

Randy Arozarena---fastball, called strike one; swinging strike on what might have been ball one; struck him out swinging on a slider arriving low, quick work for Buehler.

1-0 Dodgers after one.

[EasyAce]

Top of the second.

DODGERS

Cody Bellinger---first pitch swinging, fly ball to left, Arozarena toward the line has it, one away.

Chris Taylor---ball one, cutter outside; cutter called a strike on the outside corner; ball two misses inside; he fouls one off; curve ball low got him swinging, ball gets past C Zunino, it ricochets right back to him and he can throw to first to finish the out, two away.

Joc Pederson---called strike, cutter under the middle; weak chopper to the right side of the infield, Lowe takes it to throw him out, fast work for Morton this time. 1-0 Dodgers, mid-second.

[SZonian]

As a Phillies Phan living in the LA "area"...go RAYS!!!

Love to see Doyer fans drinking their tears...

[EasyAce]

Bottom of the second.

RAYS

Ji-Man Choi---belt-high fastball, called strike; fouls one off the third base side; ball two upstairs; fouls one off; fastball hits the low corner, caught him looking.

Manuel Margot---swinging strike on a fastball off the zone; swinging strike on a fastball around the middle; swinging strike three.

Joey Wendle---fouls one back to start; fouls a high fastball back; fly ball, left field, backing up some steps is Pederson reaching to catch it.

1-0 Dodgers after two.

[EasyAce]

Top of the third.

DODGERS

Austin Barnes---fastball in for a called strike; ball one down and away; check swing, went around on a curve ball; curve ball under the middle caught him looking.

Mookie Betts---strike called, curve ball landing around the middle; ball one low off the outside corner; called strike at the knees; ball two, curve ball misses way off outside; struck him out swinging on a curve to the low outside corner.

Corey Seager---ball one down and in; curve ball hits the middle, called strike; down and in splitter bounces and hits him in the leg. Two-out baserunner for the Dodgers.

Justin Turner---called strike on the corner; throw to first, Seager diving back safe; throws to first again, Seager back safe again; fouls one off to the right side out of play; ball one misses the inside edge; ball two, cutter misses the outside edge; fouls one off; hits one down the LF line fair and toward the corner, Seager has to hold at third after Arozarena got it at the track and threw in quickly, Turner has a two-out double.

Max Muncy---swinging strike; Rays shift him around to the right; ball one down and inside (check swing); ball two down and inside; ball three down and inside; fouls one off for the full count; line drive to center, down for a base hit, two runs come in and it's 3-0, Dodgers.

Will Smith fouls one back; fouls another back, cutter in on the hands; fly ball, center field, Kiermaier running back and has it on the track, that's the side. But it's 3-0 Dodgers in the middle of the third.

[EasyAce]

Bottom of the third.

RAYS

Willy Adames takes a leadoff fastball strike; ball one misses away; swinging strike on a rising fastball; ball two misses high and inside; ground ball to third, Turner throws him out with Muncy stretching a bit to his left to complete it, one away.

Kevin Kiermaier---ball one slide misses the outside corner; ball two misses down and inside; swinging strike; fouls one off; ball three check swing he didn't go; fouls one down the RF line and missed a homer by a few feet; ball four upstairs and the Rays have a baserunner at last.

Mike Zunino---throw to first, Kiermaier back to the pad, shifting left for Zunino; fastball misses outside, ball one; fouls a fastball straight back; he dials Area Code 5-4-3 and that's the side.

3-0 Dodgers after three.

[EasyAce]

Top of the fourth.

DODGERS

Cody Bellinger---Ball one down and inside; strike called, cutter on the outside corner; line drive, base hit to right center.

Chris Taylor---swinging strike one; takes a strike around the middle; struck him out swinging, five strikeouts for Morton.

Joc Pederson---throw to first, Bellinger back; first pitch swinging, line base hit down the right field ball, Bellinger to third, Margot throws quick back to the infield to hold Pederson to a long single.

Austin Barnes---ball one (shows bunt) taking outside; bunting, safety squeeze toward first, Bellinger scores, credit Barnes with a sac and an RBI, 4-0 Dodgers. Third sacrifice bunt all postseason long. For anyone.

Mookie Betts---takes a strike; swings and misses on a curve; ball one low and away; ball two way outside; he fouls one off; ball three down and outside; up the middle through the infielders, base hit, in comes Pederson and it's 5-0 Dodgers.

Corey Seager---ball one; swinging strike, Betts on his horse, the throw not in time, Betts has the theft; where's the Rays bullpen???; ball two, fastball missing up and away; swinging strike two, the Rays bullpen starts to stir, Ryan Thompson is throwing for the Rays; jam shot grounder to third---Wendle throws long and high and Choi at first jumps high and tags Seager out just before he lands! But it's 5-0 Dodgers in the middle of the fourth.

[EasyAce]

Bottom of the fourth.

RAYS

Austin Meadows---fastball strike on the high corner; ball one, curve ball misses inside; swinging strike on a fastball down the middle; he fouls back a pitch a little upstairs; ball two, curve ball misses outside; ball three, fastball misses up and away; high line drive to center field, Bellinger going back, hits the brakes, makes the catch, one away.

Brandon Lowe fouls one off left; called strike just on the outside edge; fouls one off; struck him out swinging, that's Buehler's fifth strikeout.

Randy Arozarena---cutter, strike called on the outside corner; fly ball well hit to center field, Bellinger going back, still going, feeling for the wall and catches it three feet in front of the fence.

5-0 Dodgers after five.

[EasyAce]

Top of the fifth.

DODGERS---Justin Turner---takes a called strike; ball one missing low; ball two down and away; strike called under the middle; fouls one back; ball three inside; struck him out swinging.

Max Muncy---ball one fastball inside; ball two down and inside; called strike on the inside corner; curve ball, swinging strike; John Curtiss throwing in the Rays' bullpen; ball three fastball inside; ball four down and inside. John Curtiss relieved Charlie Morton, p, Rays. (Why didn't Cash get the Rays pen working earlier if Morton didn't have it tonight??)

Will Smith takes a slider, strike on the outside corner; he fouls a slider off; in the air to right field, Margot comes in calling and catching.

Cody Bellinger---called strike on the outside corner; he fouls a fastball off; fouls another fastball off; ball one (check swing) missing down and in the dirt; throws to first, Muncy back safe; another throw over, Muncy back safe; struck him out swinging on a fastball under the knees. 5-0 Dodgers, middle of the fifth.

[EasyAce]

Bottom of the fifth.

RAYS

Ji-Man Choi---looks at a fastball down the pipe for a strike; he fouls one off; ball one up and away; ball two downstairs; struck him out swinging.

Manuel Margot---ball one upstairs; takes a strike off the middle; ball two upstairs again; fouls a high fastball back; ball three down and away; this one's lined inside the line at third and down to the left field corner, there goes the no-no with a man on second for the Rays!

Joey Wendle---swinging strike; ball one downstairs; fouls one off; fouls another one off; fouls a breaking ball off; fouls another one off; finally struck out swinging. Five swinging strikeouts, two called strikeouts for Buehler.

Willy Adames---fouls off the first pitch slider; fouls another one back; fouls one straight back that was a little up; hits a slider down the left field line, that's going to the corner and Margot is coming home on the RBI double, and there went the shutout! 5-1 Dodgers.

Kevin Kiermaier bounces out to first but the Rays get on the board.

5-1 Dodgers after five.

[EasyAce]

Top of the sixth.

DODGERS

Chris Taylor---ball one, fastball high; swinging strike, slider; slider hits the corner, strike two; struck him out foul-tip swinging.

Joc Pederson---looks at a strike; fouls one off long down the right field line into the second deck; popped up, left side of the infield, Wendle has it near the line, two away.

Austin Barnes---two sliders, two called strikes; hits it high and deep to center field, Kiermaier going back but this one is gonnnnnnnnnnne, goodbye, and it's 6-1 Dodgers!

Mookie Betts---fouls one off on a check swing; ball one upstairs; lined back up the middle base hit. Rays in the four-outfielders defense and nobody near second to stop it.

Corey Seager---fouls one off out of play down the left field line in the seats to start; ball one downstairs, Betts going and the throw doesn't get him, fourth World Series steal for the Mookie Monster; ball two, fastball up and away; ball three downstairs; fouls a fastball off; ball four inside, first and second for the Dodgers.

Justin Turner---ball one away; fouls one down the RF line, Margot slowed down on the run somehow and it's out of play; liner to center, deep but playable, Kiermaier has it for the out, the Rays escape further damage. 6-1 Dodgers, mid-sixth.

[EasyAce]

Bottom of the sixth.

RAYS

Mike Zunino strikes out on three pitches.

Austin Meadows---ball one high; called strike, breaking ball; ball two curve ball misses outside; fouls a low fastball off; liner to right, base hit.

Brandon Lowe---two straight swinging strikes; ball one upstairs; ball two down and in; Blake Treinen throwing in the Dodger bullpen; struck him out swinging.

Ninth strikeout for Buehler. Randy Arozarena---called strike on the outside corner; ball one misses that corner; fouls one off; ball two outside; fouls one off; struck him out swinging! Tenth strikeout for Buehler on the night.

6-1, Dodgers, after six.

[EasyAce]

Top of the seventh.

DODGERS

Ryan Sherriff relieved John Curtiss, p. Rays.

Max Muncy---ball one up and in; strike called off the middle; called strike two breaking ball on the outside edge; struck him out swinging!

Will Smith---ball one off the outside edge; ball two misses outside; infield shifts around left for the Rays; ball three inside; ball four misses inside.

Cody Bellinger---ball one high and a little outside; strike called on the upper outside corner; swinging strike on low and away; weak grounder to second, Lowe backhand flips to Adames for the out at second, Bellinger on first with two out.

Chris Taylor---fouls a slider off the third base line; fouls another one off right; fouls another one off ; ball one high and away; soft liner to second caught by Lowe for the side. 6-1 Dodgers at the seventh inning stretch.

[EasyAce]

Bottom of the seventh.

RAYS

Blake Treinen relieved Walker Buehler, p, Rays.

Ji-Man Choi---swinging strike on a low cutter; ball one missing high; ground ball, second baseman Taylor has it in shallow right and throws him out, one away.

Manuel Margot---takes strike one under the middle; fouls one off up the third base line; fouls another one off; ball one (check swing) downstairs; ball two way inside,

Ryan Thompson throwing in the Rays pen again; struck him out swinging.

Joey Wendle---ball one misses just low; he fouls one off the third base line; ball two upstairs; fouls one off; struck him out swinging.

6-1 Dodgers after seven.

[EasyAce]

Top of the eighth.

DODGERS---Enrique Hernandez pinch hits for Joc Pederson. Ryan Thompson relieved Ryan Sherriff, p, Rays.

Enrique Hernandez---takes two called strikes; struck him out swinging.

Austin Barnes---ball one missing inside; grounds it back to the mound, Thompson throws him out, two away.

Mookie Betts---first pitch ground ball to shortstop, Adames throws wide, Choi catches in the air and sweeps to tag Betts for the side. 6-1 Dodgers, mid-eighth.

[EasyAce]

Bottom of the eighth.

RAYS

Brusdar Graterol relieved Blake Treinen, p, Dodgers. Taylor to left, Hernandez to second, Dodgers.

Willy Adames---grounds out to the mound, Graderol leaping to get it and throw him out, on 0-1.

Kevin Kiermaier---swinging strike; ball one high; fly ball, right center field, hit well but not deep enough, Bellinger to his left has it, two away.

Yoshi Tsutsugo pinch hits for Mike Zunino---ball one high; ground ball, second base, throws him out, that's the side.

6-1 Dodgers after eight.

[EasyAce]

Top of the ninth.

DODGERS

Michael Perez, C, Rays. Shane McClanahan relieved Ryan Thompson, p, Rays.

Corey Seager---fouls one off to open; ball one slider down and away; fouls one back; ball two high; fouls one off; fouls another one off; ball three just low; fouls another one back; fouls yet another one off; pokes a soft liner into left just beyond Adames's reach at short and it's a leadoff base hit. Kenley Jansen throwing in the Dodger bullpen.

Justin Turner---ball one way inside; swinging strike; swinging strike two; ball two upstairs; he fouls one back; he fouls another one off; ball three in the dirt; high line drive, center field, Kiermaier backing up has it, one away.

Max Muncy---ball one; called strike on the inside corner; ball two off the inside corner; called strike at the knees; ball three high and away; fouls one off; fly to shallow left, Arozarena calls off Wendle going out and has it, two away.

Will Smith---first pitch swinging, right center fairly deep, Kiermair tracks it and has it in front of the track. 6-1 Dodgers, middle of the ninth, the Rays down to their final Game Three outs.

[EasyAce]

Bottom of the ninth.

RAYS

Kenley Jansen relieved Brusdar Graterol, p, Dodgers. Jansen's first appearance in the World Series.

Austin Meadows---two called strikes on him to open; struck him out swinging.

Brandon Lowe---swinging strike on a rising cutter; called strike around the middle; fly ball, shallow right center field, Betts has it, two away. The Rays down to their final out.

Randy Arozarena---ball one misses outside; ball two misses outside; fouls one back; strike called, cutter hitting the inside edge; ball three downstairs; high and deep to left, down the line, it's going back, it's gonnnnne, goodbye! Arozarena finally sees a fastball and hits one out, is it too little too late? 6-2 Dodgers. Eighth homer of the postseason for Arozarena.

Ji-Man Choi---strike called under the middle; ball one upstairs; liner to left, Taylor has it, that's the ball game. 6-2 your final from Texas.

The major question of this game: why didn't Rays manager Kevin Cash go to his bullpen when he really realised Charlie Morton didn't have it tonight instead of waiting until the game was largely out of hand? The Rays pen might have laboured just a bit but they still surrendered only one run on the night in four and two thirds innings.